The Venezuelan people established another benchmark this month by approving a constitutional amendment in a popular plebiscite that removes the two term restriction on candidates for political office. While this has been trumpeted in the US and conservative media as an attempt by popular President Hugo Chavez to make himself 'President for Life', nothing could be further from the truth. As Lara Pullin points out, the Australian, French, and the constitutions of a number of other countries allow for indefinite re-election (as opposed to 'appointment') of politicians (witness the Mezies years) so it is hard to see what the fuss is about. Lara tells us what this means to the Venezuelan people and why they voted the way they did in the referendum.

Burke Stansbury of CISPES is on the line from Washington with and update on the upcoming Presidential race on March 15 in El Salvador. CISPES is sending a team of 60 observers in an attempt to prevent the ARENA party's attempts at electoral fraud, that marked the January Municipal and Legislative Assembly elections. There are fears that ARENA will stop at nothing to win, in spite of a commanding lead by the opposition FMLN in the popularity stakes.

CISPES is trying to pressure the US government and the new Obama administration to negate the propaganda fear campaign by ARENA claiming that an FMLN electoral victory will lead to 'punishment' by the US.

Amanda Peters, CISPES
observer of the El Salvadoran elections brings us an update on the
latest developments. Two of the presidential candidates have been
persuaded to drop out, after a bit of arm twisting by the ARENA party,
in the hope that it will combine the vote against the FMLN (looking
like an outright winner, according to the polls). The tactic seems to
have backfired with the minority (dropout) parties committing votes to
the FMLN, resenting the standover tactics of ARENA.

Still there are fears of ARENA pulling more dirty tactics out of the
hat. The Electoral Tribunal seems to be set on ignoring the vote
stacking and buying, the importation of fake voters, and an
unwillingness to address the issue of outdated electoral rolls. The
March 15 elections are volatile, and reports will follow.

James Dunn, former diplomat and policy advisor comments on the release of Australian security files under the 30 year rule, that confirms Australia's collusion with Indonesia in the takeover of Timor Leste during the period when Indonesia was carrying out near genocidal, serial, human rights abuses. Jim suggests that Australia should share with Indonesia, some of the accountability for the horrific crimes committed at that time.

Burke Stansbury from the Washington office of CISPES gives us an update on the situation in El Salvador. After numerous documented irregularities in the January round (Municipal and Legislative Assembly elections) the lead up to the Presidential race is becoming tense. Faced with the ARENA governing party's huge financial backing of a media scare campaign, the FMLN has countered with people power - mobilising tens of thousands of supporters in a massive doorknocking campaign. Trailing the FMLN candidate by more than ten points in the polls, ARENA has pressured two of the Presidential candidates of the minor parties to withdraw, and there are fears that ARENA, known as the "Death Squad" party will resort to more dangerous tactics yet, to claw back their former power.